Liang Province rebellion

The Liang Province rebellion occurred from 184 to 189 AD when Liang Province warlords Bian Zhang and Han Sui rose in rebellion against the Han dynasty. The Han court sent Dong Zhuo and Sun Jian to pacify the region in 185, but the rebellion survived for five years, when it became a comparatively peripheral disturbance due to the formation of the Alliance against Dong Zhuo.

Background
In 184 AD, the Qiang tribes of Liang Province rose in rebellion and took the Han officials Bian Zhang and Han Sui hostage. While the Qiang were revolting against Han authority, they managed to convince the two warlords to join them in their uprising, and the rebellion gained popular support as a result. The warlord Dong Zhuo was tasked with putting down the rebels, but he proceeded too cautiously out of concern for his personal safety, leading to his men suffering heavy casualties. The Imperial Court then sent Sun Jian to assist Dong Zhuo in suppressing the revolt, and Sun Jian brought with him talented generals such as Huang Gai, Han Dang, and Cheng Pu.

Rebellion
When Sun Jian arrived with his reinforcements, Dong Zhuo left it to Sun Jian's forces to spearhead the assault on the rebels. The Han forces faced rebels who were proficient with horses, providing them with an advantage over the Han peasant infantry. Sun Jian began the battle by attacking the rebel forces positioned near the Han base camp, defeating Ma Wan, Cheng Yin, and Cheng Yi's forces. He then led a surprise assault on Bian Zhang's forces in the central garrison, defeating Li Kan and Hou Xuan's units. Bian Zhang then had Yang Qiu and Yan Xing lead archer units to fire down on the advancing Han forces, and Sun Jian was forced to defeat these generals as well in order to allow for the Han troops to advance to the south. In another attempt to stall the Han advance, Bian Zhang sent Ma Dai to launch a cavalry attack on Dong Zhuo's main camp, and Guo Si and Li Jue were defeated and forced to flee. Sun Jian then reluctantly marched to Dong Zhuo's relief, repelling Ma Dai's attack on the main camp. The Han forces advanced once again, this time reaching the rebels' main camp. There, Ma Chao charged out on his horse and cut down many Han soldiers before being overwhelmed and forced to retreat. The Han forces then rushed into the rebel main camp and defeated Ma Teng, Han Sui, and Bian Zhang, whose defeats forced their men to flee. Dong Zhuo then charged in with his horsemen and gave orders that no man was to be taken alive, displaying his trademark cruelty. In 186, Bian Zhang died of illness, but the rebellion continued to exist in many parts of Liang Province, which would virtually gain its independence due to the nation's division during the Alliance against Dong Zhuo.